THE SWALLOW-TAIL BUTTERFLY 343 
When flying this fine butterfly is some¬ 
what inconspicuous because the checkered 
and striped black- and cream-coloured 
markings produce an obliterative effect. 
Time of Appearance. The Swallow-tail 
first appears on the wing during the latter 
part of May, and is fully out in June. These 
vernal specimens lay eggs which produce 
pupae in July and August, the majority of 
these remain as pupae throughout the win¬ 
ter and emerge the following spring, while 
the remainder hatch and produce a second 
emergence of butterflies in August and 
September; late examples have occurred 
in October. The August and September 
butterflies produce autumnal larvae which 
pupate and likewise pass the winter in the pupal state, to 
emerge as butterflies the following spring in company with 
those that pupated the previous summer, consequently the 
spring flight of butterflies is always the 
most abundant. 
Hibernation. Hibernation is passed in 
the pupal state. The pupa is attached to 
the stems of reeds, sedges and other 
fenland vegetation. 
Egg Laying. When intent on depositing 
its eggs, P. machaon flies rather slowly 
over the ground where its food plants 
grow ; should the plants have been recently 
mown, its flight is only a few inches above 
the surface. When a suitable plant has 
been selected by the female, she alights 
upon it with wings held over her back and 
slightly open, always with her head upper¬ 
most and abdomen towards the ground. 
She then curves her abdomen and deposits 
a single egg and flies off to select another 
plant, and repeats the process until she is 
satisfied that each plant in the same spot 
has received an egg. She then flies rapidly 
Sixth segment of 
the larva of the Swal¬ 
low-tail directly after 
emergence from the 
egg. 
Swallow-tail larva 
after second moult, 
14 days old. 
